MLB trade round-up: Twins get Capps Phillies get Oswalt
After nearly two months of talk and resistance Roy Oswalt has finally agreed to being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies from the Houston Astros on Thursday night.
Oswalt had insisted on his 2012 $16million club option being picked up by any that trades for him but the pitcher seemingly had a change of heart at the last minute. However, the Phillies have added $1million to the pre-existing $1million buyout should the option not be picked up.
While Oswalt made it clear he wanted to leave and the Astros wanted to trade him to start rebuilding their team, the trade itself became a long drawn-out saga. On Thursday night that saga came to an end with players and figures being agreed upon by both sides. The Astros agreed to send Oswalt and $11million to the Phillies in exchange for J.A. Happ and two prospects, outfielder Anthony Gose and shortstop Jonathan Villar.
"I'm glad it worked out for both of us. I wanted to go to a contender, and Houston gets some good prospects in return who will hopefully allow them to build a winning team," Oswalt said.
"The hardest part about it is cleaning out my locker. I've been in the same place for 10 years and having to say goodbye and clean out the locker is the toughest part," he said.
Elsewhere the Minnesota Twins made a significant move trading for All-Star closer Matt Capps from the Washington Nationals.
The move did come at quite a big price for the Twins, who had to give up their top catching prospect Wilson Ramos whilst also sending minor league left-hander Joe Testa. The Nationals also sent cash considerations to the Twins to subsidise the deal.
Twins general manager Bill Smith was pleased with the deal.
“The motivation is that this makes us a better club. This gives us more depth in the back of that bullpen. Matt Capps is an established, veteran closer who is going to give us a better chance to win our division and advance to the World Series,” Smith said.
Capps is 3-3 with a 2.74 ERA and 26 saves in 30 chances this season.
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